The foundation will teach football fundamentals. There will be a 40-yard dash, a defense station where kids ma­neuver through blocks and tackle dummies, a tire rings station consisting of different agility drills, and a touchdown station where kids catch footballs while maneuvering their way to score a touchdown.

Kids can meet Bennie Blades, a former Detroit Lion and University of Miami football player, and his brother Brian Blades, a former Seattle Seahawk and Univer­sity of Miami football player. Other confirmed participants, according to the sports commission, are Bobby Harden, James Pruitt and Troy Drayton from the Miami Dolphins, Reggie Givens from the San Francisco 49ers and Kenny Berry from the San Diego Chargers.

In a statement, Bennie Blades said, “We look forward to conducting our daily clinics which will teach kids the importance of health and wellness, while learn­ing a little more about sports, all sports, not just football!”

The United States Tennis Association will also participate at the Kids Fitness Festival, for the fourth consecutive year. It will host a clinic that teaches basic skills of the sport.

The Kids’ Fitness Festival targets children under the age of 13. It promotes traditional school sports, such as foot­ball, baseball and basketball, and sports not commonly found in the school system, such as archery, badminton, fencing and netball.

The festival will be held at the South Florida Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The advance ticket price is $17 per child. Parents are free.

To learn more, go to PalmBeachSports.com.

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission has teamed up with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida to present the 2009 Kids’ Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches. The festival will be held July 16 and 17 at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Last year’s event drew a record number with 6,300 kids aged 5 to 13.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida presented the Palm Beach County Sports Commission with a check for $20,000 at the sports commission’s monthly board of directors meeting on May 18. Ricky Wade, a Palm Beach County McDonald’s franchisee representing RMHC of South Florida, said in a statement, “The Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida is once again privileged to partner with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and the Kids’ Fitness Festival to promote the well being of children through sports. It is an excellent and well planned event, something RMHC strongly supports. We hope to continue supporting it and being part of it for years to come.”

The Kids’ Fitness Festival gives children the opportunity to learn and participate in more than 40 traditional and non-traditional sports. Some of the featured sports include baseball, basketball, fencing, football, lacrosse, martial arts, netball, tennis and soccer. Also participating in the event are professional sports teams, former professional athletes, facilities and mascots.

The Kids’ Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches is also sponsored by ESPN Radio 760, KOOL 105.5 FM, Primetime Palm Beach County, Inc., Parenting Plus Magazine and The Palm Beach Post.

For more information go to PalmBeachSports.com/kff.